October 9, 2026 — Air India and Air India Express raised fuel surcharges on domestic and international tickets from today, following IndiGo’s increase earlier in the week. Air India has also cancelled its Riyadh flights through October 10.
What happened
Fuel surcharges. The new charges took effect on Friday, October 9, Business Standard reports. Domestic surcharges are set by distance and rose by between 33% and 60%. The previous scale ran from ₹299 to ₹899 and dated from April.
| Domestic distance | New surcharge | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 500 km | ₹400 | 34% |
| 501–1,000 km | ₹600 | 50% |
| 1,001–1,500 km | ₹850 | 55% |
| 1,501–2,000 km | ₹1,200 | 60% |
| Above 2,000 km | ₹1,200 | 33% |
| International region | New surcharge | Was |
|---|---|---|
| North America and Australia | $215 | $200 |
| Europe, including the UK | $135 | $125 |
| West Asia / Middle East | $55 | $50 |
Jet fuel in Delhi has risen from about ₹110 to about ₹137 a litre, including a 13% jump in October alone. Fuel is normally about 40% of an Indian airline’s operating costs.
Akasa Air raised its charges the same day, to between ₹375 and ₹1,150 on domestic flights and a flat ₹2,500 on its international routes. IndiGo’s increase applied to new bookings from October 7; its amounts were not given in the report.
Riyadh. Air India cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh through October 10 after the attacks on King Khalid International Airport. One Delhi–Riyadh flight turned back to Delhi, Aerospace Global News reports. A restart date beyond October 10 is TBA.
What it means for non-revs
- Check what your ZED or ID ticket collects. Many airlines pass carrier surcharges on to staff tickets. If Air India does on your agreement, a long-haul sector now carries a higher add-on. Reprice before you buy.
- The new amounts apply from October 9. Reissuing an older ticket may trigger them, so ask before you change dates.
- Domestic India gets dearer on every airline. Air India, Air India Express, Akasa and IndiGo have all moved within four days, so there is no cheaper carrier to switch to.
- Do not list on Air India to Riyadh before October 11, and expect full flights when service resumes.
- Loads: higher fares can soften leisure demand on domestic routes over time, but nothing in these reports shows that yet.
Sources
- Business Standard, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa raise fuel surcharges after IndiGo move
- Gulf Business, Lufthansa, Indian airlines suspend flights to Riyadh after Houthi attacks
- Aerospace Global News, Saudia aircraft destroyed and pilot killed in Riyadh Airport attack
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